Jurevicius Family Welcomes Daughter

NFL - Buccaneers - The Beat

August 10, 2004|By Emily Badger, Chris Harry, Sentinel Staff Writers

It seems as if WR Joe Jurevicius has been handed only bad news during the past year and a half, so Bucs camp was in a particularly celebratory mood with the announcement that the wide receiver's wife, Meagan, gave birth to a healthy baby girl on Monday.

Jurevicius has been sidelined for most of the past year, first with a torn ligament in his right knee and then a herniated disk in his back that required surgery this past week. The injuries came not long after Jurevicius' first child, Michael William, died in March 2003 from a rare neurodegenerative disease. The baby was barely two months old.

"Joe Jurevicius has had a lot happen to him in the last year, emotionally, mentally, physically, and we've got to be there for him now and help him through this rehab," Bucs Coach Jon Gruden said. "It's great to enjoy the birth of a child, and we're excited for him. Hopefully he brings us all cigars."

Caroline Elizabeth was born 9 pounds, 1 ounce, and 213/4 inches long.

Jurevicius is expected back in camp today to resume rehabbing.

CHARTING PROGRESS

The Bucs released their first depth chart of the preseason Monday, with a few small surprises but no major revelations. Rookie Mark Jones is listed as the top kick returner on special teams, so far outperforming six-year veteran Brandon Bennett, who was signed as a free agent during the offseason specifically to fill that role. Ian Gold is ahead of Ryan Nece at strong-side linebacker, receiver Bill Schroeder has worked his way up to Michael Clayton's backup, and third-round draft pick Marquis Cooper is listed behind Derrick Brooks at weakside linebacker. "Chris Simms/Brian Griese" is the listing at backup quarterback. And don't read anything into the fact that Simms is named first.

RISING STOCK

Backup linebacker and special-teams force Jeff Gooch, now in his second stint with the Bucs, has impressed Gruden. "If there's one guy who's going up the charts in my eyes, it's Jeff Gooch," Gruden said. "I don't know how we ever let him out of here in the first place. He gives our team not only versatility, but an added dimension of speed. He's an old-school Buccaneers defender." Gooch left Tampa as a free agent in 2002 after six seasons with the Bucs. He then played the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions before re-signing this offseason.

QUOTE

"This is my new team and I'm focused on being here -- but I did get a little chuckle out of that."

-- OT Todd Steussie, on the predicament now facing the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers released Steussie in March in favor of free agent Adam Meadows, who announced his retirement Monday due to a bad shoulder.